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Shelby Lee Adams

Shelby Lee Adams

American · b. 1950 · Photographer

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12auction results2022–2026years recorded100%sold (12)$550Sign up free to seemedian price

Record prices

  1. Shelby Lee Adams, Children at Topmost, 1991, Gelatin silver printChildren at TopmostLempertz · €1,260≈ $1,429≈ £1,060Sign up to see
  2. Shelby Lee Adams, The Boys at Tompost, 1992, Gelatin silver printThe Boys at TompostLempertz · €1,143≈ $1,330≈ £988Sign up to see
  3. Shelby Lee Adams, Paul with Mother and Bucket, 1985, Gelatin silver printPaul with Mother and BucketLempertz · €882≈ $1,000≈ £742Sign up to see

Shelby Lee Adams’s highest prices recorded at auction, ranked in US dollars at each sale-date exchange rate and shown in the currency of the sale (with the buyer’s premium where the house publishes it).

ArtSell has recorded 12 auction results for Shelby Lee Adams between 2022 and 2026, of which 12 sold (100%). Recorded sale prices range from $282Sign up free to see to $1.4kSign up free to see. The highest price recorded is $1.4kSign up free to see for Children at Topmost at Lempertz in May 2025. The most common medium is photographs (12 lots). Most results come from Lempertz (4), Brunk Auctions (3) and Rago Auctions (2).

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12 results

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  1. Shelby Lee Adams, Appalachian Dracula with Grandma, Leatherwood, Kentucky, 1992, T52 Polaroid Polapan 4x5 film Type 52
    Appalachian Dracula with Grandma, Leatherwood, Kentucky, 1992
    Photograph
    4½ h x 3½ w in (11 x 9 cm)
    Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) · · Lot 175
    $333≈ £249≈ €290Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $400–View at Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA) ↗
  2. Shelby Lee Adams, The Boys at Tompost, 1992, Gelatin silver print
    The Boys at Tompost, 1992
    Photograph
    37.7 x 48.1 cm (40.6 x 50.5 cm)
    Lempertz · · Lot 680
    €1,143≈ $1,330≈ £988Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €800–1,000View at Lempertz ↗
  3. Shelby Lee Adams, Selected Images (comprising 'Lloyd Dean Holding Great-Grand Baby', 'Noble Boys on 4-Wheelers', 'Walter's Trailer', and 'Three Sisters'), 2010-2014, Four chromogenic prints; each signed
    Selected Images (comprising 'Lloyd Dean Holding Great-Grand Baby', 'Noble Boys on 4-Wheelers', 'Walter's Trailer', and 'Three Sisters'), 2010-2014
    Photograph
    14 x 19 in. (35.6 x 48.3 cm.) or the reverse
    Bonhams · · Lot 172
    $282≈ £207≈ €238Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $500–700View at Bonhams ↗
  4. Shelby Lee Adams, Sloan's porch, 1988, unique Polaroid Type 52 PolaPan print
    Sloan's porch, 1988
    Photograph
    4½ h x 3½ w in (11 x 9 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 169
    $445≈ £330≈ €389Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  5. Shelby Lee Adams, Bert Sitting in Front of Bed, 1988, unique Polaroid Type 52 PolaPan print
    Bert Sitting in Front of Bed, 1988
    Photograph
    4½ h x 3½ w in (11 x 9 cm)
    Rago Auctions · · Lot 171
    $318≈ £236≈ €278Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $300–View at Rago Auctions ↗
  6. Shelby Lee Adams, Paul with Mother and Bucket, 1985, Gelatin silver print
    Paul with Mother and Bucket, 1985
    Photograph
    33.6 x 47.7 cm (40.6 x 50.4 cm)
    Lempertz · · Lot 813
    €882≈ $1,000≈ £742Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €800–1,000View at Lempertz ↗
  7. Shelby Lee Adams, Children at Topmost, 1991, Gelatin silver print
    Children at Topmost, 1991
    Photograph
    37.5 x 48 cm (40.5 x 50.5 cm)
    Lempertz · · Lot 814
    €1,260≈ $1,429≈ £1,060Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €800–1,000View at Lempertz ↗
  8. Shelby Lee Adams, Erik with Spike the Rooster, 2001, Gelatin silver print
    Erik with Spike the Rooster, 2001
    Photograph
    46.9 x 38 cm (50.5 x 40.5 cm)
    Lempertz · · Lot 816
    €819≈ $929≈ £689Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. €800–1,000View at Lempertz ↗
  9. Shelby Lee Adams, Brothers Praying, 1993, Gelatin silver print; identified on an OK Harris Gallery label affixed to the backing as edition 4/25; framed
    Brothers Praying, 1993
    Photograph · ed. 4/25
    sight 18 3/8 x 14 5/8 in. (46.7 x 37.2 cm)
    Bonhams · · Lot 203
    $410≈ £325≈ €393Price realizedSign up free to seeEst. $400–600View at Bonhams ↗
  10. Children with Blind Horse, 2008
    Photograph · ed. 3/25
    Brunk Auctions · · Lot 789
    $500≈ £402≈ €463HammerSign up free to seeEst. $1,000–2,000View at Brunk Auctions ↗

Shelby Lee Adams photographs (12)

Shelby Lee Adams: quick facts

What is the highest price paid for a work by Shelby Lee Adams at auction?

$1,429Sign up free to see, for Children at Topmost at Lempertz (May 2025) — the highest price in ArtSell’s records.

What is a typical auction price for Shelby Lee Adams?

The median sale price is $550Sign up free to see across 12 priced sales. Prices vary by medium, size and date — see the price chart & statistics.

How many works by Shelby Lee Adams have sold at auction?

12 of 12 recorded lots sold between 2022 and 2026.

Which auction houses sell Shelby Lee Adams?

Lempertz, Brunk Auctions and Rago Auctions account for the most recorded results. Lempertz · Brunk Auctions · Rago Auctions

Related artists — American, born 1925–1975